In April, Joe Walsh of The Eagles nixed participating in a planned July concert in Cleveland, Ohio after he said he learned it was in fact "a launch for the Republican National Convention." It's not the first time the party, or one of its candidates, has run afoul of rockers.

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Photos:Rockers vs. GOP: Long out of tune

Neil Young was not happy that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump chose to use his song "Rockin' In The Free World" when he announced his candidacy.

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Photos:Rockers vs. GOP: Long out of tune

Bruce Springsteen asked Ronald Reagan's campaign to stop using his 1980s hit "Born in the U.S.A."

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Photos:Rockers vs. GOP: Long out of tune

The Silversun Pickups told Mitt Romney's campaign to not use their song "Panic Switch."

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Photos:Rockers vs. GOP: Long out of tune

In 2008, the band Heart asked John McCain's campaign to stop playing their song "Barracuda" in honor of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's nickname on her high school basketball team, "Sarah Barracuda."

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Photos:Rockers vs. GOP: Long out of tune

John Mellencamp asked the McCain campaign to not use his songs "Our Country" and "Pink Houses" while campaigning.

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Photos:Rockers vs. GOP: Long out of tune

McCain settled out of court with Jackson Browne for using his 1977 hit "Running on Empty" in a campaign ad without the artist's permission.

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Photos:Rockers vs. GOP: Long out of tune

Tom Petty objected to Michele Bachmann's campaign playing his 1977 hit "American Girl" after it was played during the kickoff event for the Minnesota representative's presidential bid.

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Photos:Rockers vs. GOP: Long out of tune

Boston complained about Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee playing their 1970s hit "More than a Feeling" without the band's permission in 2008.

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R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe was livid after the use of his band's song at the event.

"Go f*ck yourselves, the lot of you -- you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men," Stipe said in an email to The Daily Beast. "Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign."

"While we do not authorize or condone the use of our music at this political event, and do ask that these candidates cease and desist from doing so, let us remember that there are things of greater importance at stake here," R.E.M. said.

"The media and the American voter should focus on the bigger picture, and not allow grandstanding politicians to distract us from the pressing issues of the day and of the current Presidential campaign."

'What's the frequency?'

"Donald Trump was not authorized to use 'Rockin' In The Free World' in his presidential candidacy announcement," Young's management company said in a statement. "Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America."

R.E.M. is the second major rock band this week to be roiled by the use of a song for a rally it didn't support.